Dollar Plate

Vessel heads are usually formed with one plate section. But when the head diameter becomes too large and you cannot use just one plate section, the head is fabricated in orange peel sections. The orange peel sections meet at a "circular plate" at the center of the head. That circular plate is referred by others as the "dollar plate".

If too many welds intersect at a point, their heat-affected zones can augment each other, creating problems. "T"-shaped intersections, with the "branch" welded first, and the "crossbar" second, minimize such problems.

In vessel shells, staggered joints can prevent this; alternatively, "dollar" plates can be inserted at four-weld intersections.